[Minn Mark]

Looking for feedback from any AVA users who have compared the coax input versus toslink optical on appropriately equipped AVA DACs.  I am considering swapping into my system my OPPO BDP-93 as a CD/DVD transport  and wonder whether the output from the cox or optical would sound better feeding an AVA DAC. My current Insight DAC has no optical, but this could be an excuse to update, or move up to the FET...?

Thanks in advance.

Mark

[PSB Guy]

I have my Apple TV, my DVD player, and my PVR all running through my AVA Vision EC DAC. The only component that has both coax and optical is the PVR. I have tried both and couldn't tell the difference. I think as long as you use good cable of short length (all mine are 8 feet), there shouldn't be a difference. If I have a choice I use coax, only because I like the connectors better, they generally have a tighter hold.

Cornelis

[avahifi]

There should be no difference at all unless the optical cable gets too long, then it can cause dropouts sooner then a long coax cable will.  I am talking about 20 foot runs or so, not usually needed for a home audio system.

Frank

[RDavidson]

I think there are differences in sound quality between coax and optical (in some cases), but providing an explanation for this goes way beyond your simple question. There are numerous articles on the net about this topic as well.

So I'll say this : I prefer coax as it has fewer "flaws" than optical, in general, and is a more robust connection / signal transmission interface. How this translates to the eventual sound you hear, from your system, and in your room is another story. You may like optical more. Or you may not hear a discernible difference between the two. Give both a try. There's no right or wrong. Just what's right for you.

[PSB Guy]

Connection differences aside, upgrading your DAC would give you both more connection flexibility and a better DAC. I'm sure the new FET Valve DACs would be a big step up in sound quality.

Cornelis

[Elizabeth]

If you use a glass fiber optical no problem with long runs. (Medical equipment ones are better value being cheaper and better made.)
IMO no difference attibutable to the format difference. the differences are all item/equipment specific.
Both work great.
Of the ones available AES/EBU is the most robust, but that is just my opinion..

[jonbee]

Toslink used to be derided, but I've found that good quality glass toslink cables sound about as good as the best coax I've used, and at a lower price. (Lifatec sells very good ones for ~$70/meter). This may have to do with electrical isolation. Plastic toslink cables, however, are best avoided. Even more expensive ones sound veiled to me.

[Jim Hamley]

Charles Hansen of Ayre recommends optical over coax as it provides DC isolation.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I have a CD player where the Coax sounds better than the optical out.  It is fairly noticeable.  Better HF detail.  I figure that optical has to be converted to an electrical signal where as coax is already electrical.  But like every thing in audio, it is system and component dependent.  You can't make a generalization.

[Wayner]

Huh? I guess the very nature of the CD is that it is optical.

Wayner

[srb]

Huh? I guess the very nature of the CD is that it is optical.

Yes, but the data read optically off of the disc is converted internally in a player to an electrical S/PDIF signal for digital outputs.  If a Toslink optical output is used the signal does undergo a second layer of conversion from electrical to optical and back to electrical at the receiving unit via Toslink transceiver modules.

Most of the lab measurements with a jitter analyzer that I've seen usually show a much higher jitter on the optical outputs than the coaxial outputs.  Whether that translates into better sound I guess depends on the particular setup, but in my own subjective evaluations with a CD player, a DVD player and a computer server, they all sounded a bit more focused and precise to me with their coaxial outputs.

For those interested in higher resolution music, many Toslink outputs have a 24/96 limitation which probably speaks to the nature of the precision of consumer Toslink transceivers. 

So I usually recommend the coaxial over Toslink, unless a coaxial output is not available in which case the optical is awesome!  I use a 35 ft. optical to feed a secondary system as I simply don't have a second coaxial output.

Steve

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Yes the laser reads the disk and converts it to an electrical signal first.  Then it is converted to an optical signal again.  I am not saying that all coax is better than optical.  I just meant that in my CD player the coax sounds better.  I would never make a generalization that coax is always better than optical as I know a few people who have found just the opposite.

[JerryM]

Minn Mark,

Buy one of each; it need not be a huge expense. Try each and , whether you believe in it or not, allow for some break in on each configuration before you make any steadfast judgments.

Only after that will you truly know the answer to your question.



Have fun,

Jerry

[dougme57]

I have never heard a difference. Go to Monoprice get a cable and forget about it.